Periscope mount



Sept 12 1950 E. o. KoLLMoRGEN 2,522,280

\ PERIscoPE Moum` Filed Feb. 7, 1948 2 rSheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS,

Sept' 12, 1950 E. o. KoLLMoRGEN 2,522,280

I PERISCOPE MOUNT Filed Feb. 7, 1948 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. ERNST o. 'KOLLMORGEN BY Wwe-Zac y marine periscope.

`telescoping tubular elements and, in order to Other advantages are that much smaller equip- U-shaped optical pathbeing enclosed in telescop- 35 packing gland or oil from the mechanical parts air, all of which must be kept free from dustA utility and objects of the invention, will become Patented sept. 12, 195o i n .2,522,280

UNITED STATESl 4PATENT- oFFlcE.

Ernst o. Kollmorgen, Mountain Lakes, N. J., as-

signor to Kollmorgen Optical Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 7, 1948, Serial No. 6,970

s claims. (oi. ss-G'sd l- 2 t This invention relates to an impr-ovement in tions, from being expanded beyond a predeterperiscope mountsand particularly to an extenmined maximum. sible enclosure for the optical system of a sub- The bellows may be constructed of any suity I* able material and their dimensions will, of course, Submarine periscopes includes an elongated depend upon the length and diameter of the optubular member which is mounted for elevation tical path. Bellows of stainless steel having a and retraction in bearings and in suitable waterthickness of the order of .006 inch have proven proof seals and gaskets in the conning tower or quite satisfactory. superstructure of a submarine. This tubularl One advantage of the present invention is that member, referred to hereinafter as a periscope lo the bellows enclose only the optical Apath of the tube, is projected and retracted by means of a periscope while the hoisting mechanism and suitable hoisting apparatus usually including a other moving partsare outside the enclosed air pair of suspended hydraulic jacks. space.

Inasmuch as it is extremely desirable to main- Another advantage is that when the bellows tain the eyepiece or viewer of the periscope at 15 are applied to U-shaped periscope bases, vthe about the same distance above the control deck volume enclosed therebyr is constant for all posiof a submarine and the periscope must, be opertions of the periscope tube. As a result, pressure able at various positions of the periscope tube, and condensation troubles due to the variations it has previously been proposed to construct to in pressure normally encountered are completely at least the lower portion of the periscope tube of 30 avoided.

give a wider range of operation, to provide a ment is required to maintain the air surrounding U-shaped optical path down from the base of the optical equipment at the proper state of desthe periscope tube and up to the eyepiece, said ication, that `moisture seeping past the periscope ing tubes of variable length. are excluded from the optical path, and that the These arrangements,` and particularly the weight of the bellows arrangement is far less than latter, have a number of inherent disadvantages. that of the telescoping tube arrangement used They are extremely heavy and difficult to manipheretofore.

ulate, they enclose a relatively large quantity of 30 vThese and other advantages, as Well as the and condensable moisture, and the air pressure mre apparent from the fOllOWng description -within the system will vary considerably depend- `made with reference to the accompanying drawing upon the position of the periscope tube and ing Wherein `thereby add to the diniculty of manipulating the 3 Figure 1 is a schematic side View of the com- Cel system.l -plete periscope mount;

k It has now been found that these disadvantages Fgufe 2 iS 2 rdetailed Part Sectional View in can be overcome by providing bellows or the elevation; and

like to enclose the optical path between the base Figure. 3 iS e DIELII'VBW teken along section line 3-3 of Figure 2.

A typical periscope, having a U-shaped optical path enclosed in accordance with the present invention, may include a periscope tube ID proof the periscope tube and the eyepiece. This in 4( vention is applicable particularly toperiscopes having a U-shaped `opticalpath, wherein bellows are provided to enclose each leg of the path to N Jectlng through the superstructure Il, and an frn';I a sthieldlanrll enclosuie of substantially con- 45 eyepiece I2 in a Viewing tube I3, mounted on a s an m erna V0 urne' control deck I4, both tubes being open at their ,In the preferred construcrlon' the beuOW on -lower ends and containing optical elements. A oooh log of the U'Sholoed Support are dlvlded iirst series of bellows I6 is attached to the undermto a numbrof soot/1011 Connected together vside of the periscope tube I0, a second series of 'by flanges havmg 'perroror'lons staggered rela" 50 bellowsv Il is attached to the underside. of .the ,tively of'ono another and ongagoable SeloCtVelY viewing `tube I3, and a rei'iector housing I9 is 'by pins or hooks attached to a Sprocket Chain attached to the lower ends of the rst and second or the like so as to control the extent of expanseries of bellows. The housing I9 is supported sion of each bellows section and prevent any 0f by a pair of sprocket chains 20 and 20u, passing the Sections, andparticularly the uppermost sec- 5V over sprocket Wheels 2! and 2Ia, y.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2 and 3, the reflector housing I9 supports two relectors 22 and 24 positioned to reflect upwardly to the eyepiece I2 the rays of light passing downwardly through the telescope tube I and the first series of bellows I6. In addition to the sprocket wheels 2l and 2 la already described, the housing i9 is provided. with lguidesl and 26a, slidable on vertical rails 2l and 21a. A pluu rality of guide pins 29 project from the upper portion of the housing to assist in guiding the bellows into non-buckling position when they are.y collapsed.

The bellows are divided into 4relatively'short sections 3B. is provided with a ange 3l. To the top of each flange 3l that is affixed to theflowerfendoffa series of bellows there are xed, by jmeans of screws 39 or the like, .a pair of upstanding elements 32 having perforated lugs 34 for -engageymentwith a supporting'pin 36 mounted .on' the sprocket chain 3l, which in turn'is fastenedto 'the bottom ofthe telescope tube Hl, and tothe i underside of the control deck I4. The perforated lug'sj34,are staggered relatively of one another and the supporting; pins 35,'f1xed tov thesprocket lchain 3l at equidistant intervals, are Vlikewise VVstaggered with. relation to4 one another so that `each supporting pin .will engage only one selectedperiorated lug in eachseries of bellows.

Theportion of Athe Vperiscope mount below the control deck I4 may, if desired, be enclosedin a stationary tube lil) toprotect the bellows .against 'damage.

".When thev periscope. tube l, is in its projected vpositio nthefirst series=of bellows l5 is'fully extended, `as shown insolid lines in Figure 1, andthe ,second series of bellows Il is fully collapsed. When the periscope tube l0 is retracted, the `movement of the sprocket chains 20 and'Zla over the .sprocketlwheelsll ,and Zia causes the ,housing` [Sto move downwardly at one half .the speed of the periscope tube. IQ. This causes the rst series of .bellows i6. to vcollapse andthe sec- `ond .series of `bellows il to'expanduntiliinally .theyassume the position `shown indotted lines in .@Eigure l. .Thesupporting pin 3S engaging. with the lowermost lug 3d in the first series .ofbellows 5,6 whenthe periscope tube Hl is inits projected ,.position--isthe first-to be withdrawn as the peri- `.scope .tube .in .is lowered. ,After the .lowermost `Seolpioneii)..of the-first :series of bellows is fully collapsed, the pin 36 passes aroundthesprocket Wheel A2| and engages .the second .highest perforated lug 3d in the second-series of.-bellowsr Il, t.thehighestperforated lugv in thatr series having already been engaged by its supportingpinf. The.. remaining supporting pins` act successively and in substantially the same Ina-nner so lthat gasa-seriesof bellows ,are contractedY the-.lowermost bellows .sections will be collapsed nrst,and ,..asa seriesof bellows areextended, the `uppermost sections will.V be extended iirst. The dis- ,tance between the supporting pins I36 on the qsprooketchain-Zil and their selective engage- ;mentfwithzthe perforated lugs 3P, preventsvover- .expansion onthe part offany of the bellows sections-,fand avoidshaving-.the weightof. the lower z-bellows suspended `from the upper bellows. As =the supporting pins leave the collapsed bellows, the .guide pins 2B operate to keep the otherwise ...unguided bellows in line.

it :is `otvious Ithat the vperiscope -rnount described above isadapta-ble for-neem Amany dif- Preferably each endvof eachsection" ferent types of periscopes and is not necessarily limited to the U-shaped periscope mounts. It is to be understood, therefore, that the form of the invention described herein is illustrative only and 5 not intended to limit the scope of the following claims.

I claim: 1. A periscope comprising aSXed yperiscope 'tube section having an eyepiece at its upper end and an open lower end, a second periscope tube substantially parallel with the rst tube and containing optical elements, said second tube being movable axially between a projected and avretracted position and having an open lower ,l5 i end,A-re1lectingmeans including a housing therefor mounted movably below the lower ends of the `.tubesaforreiiecting light from the second tube tothefirst tube, means connecting the hous- Ying to the second tube. for moving the reflecting means in the same direction as the second tube ubuteateoneehalf thev speed ofthe latter 'to maintainwan opticalI path of constant*length-between Athe lower-ends yof saidy tubes-andseparate lco1- lapsible and extensible bellows inter-posed between -z5'-'tl,ie=housingl and each of the-lower ends-ofthe tubes andl communicating with each other, said "bellows-and housing forming -an enclosure for L-thegoptical/path, one-of ysaidbellows being ex- *tensible'as the other-collapses Varidbot-h of'said Bobellowsbeing of substantially the same internal `)diameter to maintain the Volume of said enclosure constant regardless of the movement of said second tube.

2. VA periscope comprising a xed periscope tube section having an eyepiece at its upper end andv an open lower end, a second periscope tube substantially parallel with the rst tube'and z`containing-'optical elements, said second tube be- 1ing-movable'axially-.between a Vprojected and a i0 -'re-traetedpositionvandv having an open lower end, -reilect-ing-=means Aincluding va housing therefor Mmounted movably below thelower ends of said "tubesf'for*reflecting light lfrom the second'tube -to1 therstf tube, means connecting the housiner ^tothe second-tube for moving the-reflecting means with the secondftube but at one-half the speed ofthe-latteri to maintain an voptical path `=`'ofi/constant length -between ysaidixed tube and said-second tube, separate series of collapsible ufanjd-extensi-ble bellows sections interposed be- Ptweensaidfhousing and each of said lower ends MVVof-'saidtubes, said bellows sections and said-housing' communicatingat their lower ends, said bel- -lows sectionS'and housing forming an enclosure =foresaid^optical path, saidbellows sectionsy beingof essentially the same internal diameter to render the volume of saidenclosure substantially =Aconstanthregardless kof the movement of said second tube,andmeans selectively `and 'individually -supporting-each bellowsl-sectionto limitJ its eX- :tension toa predetermined. maximum,

3. A ,periscope .comprising .a fixed periscope `tube sectionfhaving an eyepiece at its upper end and -ancpen lower yend, a -second periscopel tube substantially parallel with theirsttube andrcon I taining optical elements,-.said second tube ybeing ;.movable..axially between .a projected and a re- Wtraeted position and .having an open lower end, reflecting ,means mountedmovably below the .lOWer endsoftl:1e...tubes.for4 reflecting light from `the second tube to the ,irst tube, a sprocket wheel rotatable on said reilecting means, a sprocket chain connecting the relectingineans to `the second tubefor moving the reflecting means with the second tube but at onedialf the speed of the latter, said chain having relatively staggered supporting members projecting therefrom, series of collapsible and extensible bellows sections interposed between the reflecting means and the' lower ends of the tubes forming a shield and enclosure of substantially constant internal volume, flange members between adjacent bellows sections, said flange members having relatively staggered perforated lugs for Selective engagement with the supporting members to limit the extension of the bellows sections to a predetermined maximum.

4. In a periscope having a periscope tube movable axially between a projected and a retracted position, a viewing tube provided with an eye piece, and a U-shaped optical path from the periscope tube tothe' eyepiece, the combination which comprises a reflector housing at the root of said U-shaped optical path for reflecting upwardly to the eyepiece the rays of light passing downwardly through the periscope tube, a rst Series of bellows enclosing the optical path between the periscope tube and the housing, a second series of bellows enclosing the optical path between the housing and the viewing tube, said first and second series of bellows being divided into a series of bellows sections, a plurality of annular flanges between said bellows sections and provided with relatively staggered perforated lugs, a sprocket wheel rotatably mounted on the housing, a sprocket chain passing aroundv said sprocket wheel and fastened at one end to a relatively stationary support and at the other end to the periscope tube,said chain carrying a plurality of supporting pins staggered relative to one another for selective engagement with said perforated lugs, whereby said chain supports the housing and the fully extended bellows sections, and guide means on the housing for maintaining the bellows in axial alignment while in collapsed position.

5. In a periscope having a periscope tube movable axially between a projected and a retracted position, a viewing tube provided with an eyepiece, and a reflector below said tubes and forming therewith a U-shaped optical path from the periscope tube to the eyepiece, the combination which comprises a movable housing for said reilector, separate collapsible and extensible bellows of substantially equal internal diameters communicating with each other and enclosing the optical path between the periscope tube and the housing and between the housing and the viewing tube, and means connecting the reflector housing tothe periscope tube for moving the housing with the periscope tube but at one-half the speed of the latter to extend one bellows and collapse the other at equal rates to maintaiin constant the volume of gas within said bellows.

6. In a periscope having a periscope tube movable axially between a projected and a retracted position, a viewing tube provided with an eyepiece, and a reector below said tubes and forming therewith a U-shaped optical path from the periscope tube to the eyepiece, the combination which comprises a movable housing for said reflector at the root of said U-shaped optical path, a first bellows enclosing the optical path between the periscope tube and the reflector means, a second bellows enclosing the optical path between the reflector means and the viewing tube and communicating with said rst bellows for flow of gas therebetween, means for moving said periscope tube andsaid housing in the same direction at different speeds to maintain the optical path 6 constant in length and to collapse one bellows and extend the other to maintain the combined volumes of the bellows constant, and means for supporting the bellows to limit their expansion to a predetermined maximum.

7. A periscope comprising a xed periscope tube section having 1an eyepiece at its upper end and an open lower end, a second periscope tube substantially parallel with the first tube and containing optical elements, said second tube be ing movable axially between a projected and a retracted position, land having an open lower end, reflecting means mounted movably below the lower ends of the tubes for reflecting light from the second tube to the lrst tube, a sprocket wheel rotatable on said reecting means, a sprocket chain connecting the reecting means to the second tube for moving the rei'iecting means in the same direction as the second tube `but at one-half the speed of the latter to maintain the optical path from said lower end to said eyepiece constant, first and second series of collapsible and extensible bellows sections interposed between the reflecting means and the lower ends of the first and second tubes, respectively, and forming first and second bellows of substantially equal internal diameters, said bellows communieating with each other through said housing and forming an enclosure of substantially constant internal volume in all positions of said second tube, and guide means on said bellows sections for engaging the sprocket chain and guiding the bellowssectionsto maintain them in axial alignment with the respective tubes.

8. In a periscope having a periscope tube n'iovable axially between a projectedk and a retracted position, la viewing tube provided with an eyepiece, and a reflector below said tubes forming therewith a U-shlaped optical path from the periscope tube to the eyepiece, the combination which comprises a movable housing for said reflector, a first series of bellows enclosing the optical path between the periscope tube :and the housing, a second series of bellows enclosing the optical path between the housing and the viewing tube and communicating with said first series of bellows sections, said first :and second series of bellows having substantially the same internal diameters and being divided into a series of bellows sections, a plurality of annular flanges between said bellows sections, a sprocket wheel rotatably mounted on the housing, a sprocket chain passing around said sprocket wheel and fastened at one end to a relatively stationary support and at the other end to the periscope tube to maintain the length of said optical path and the volume within said bellows sections constant in all positions of said periscope tube, and guide means on the annular flanges for maintaining the bellows in axial alignment with the periscope tube and the viewing tube.

ERNST O. KOLLMORGEN.

REFERENCES yCITED The following references are of record in the le of this' patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,529,254 I Humbrecht Mar. 10, 1925 1,624,733 Humbrecht Apr. 12, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 229,456 Germany 1 Dec. 21, 1910 293,445 Italy Oct. 21, 1930 

